(Mind you, dear pal, we are dealing with the apolitical [musicologically speaking] Rolling Stones. Had Goddard made a film about Billy Bragg or Propaghandi or The Bay City Rollers, chances are he would've reached a different conclusion.)
(Although, of course, the recent Stones record is, by all accounts, devastatingly anti-Bush. That Bush. Ooh, he's a bad 'un.)
The point of the film, I would go so far as to suggest, is that it is pointless, in so far as the A, B, C's of the narrative might be concerned. It serves to promote thought and banter and debate, but nothing much else. The hilarious irony of it all is that, when Victoria closed her legs, what we debated was the film, and scarcely mentioned the rhetoric.
"What was he trying to do?"
"Does it mean this or that…?"
"Was he bored with filmmaking?"
In the alternate version, One Plus One, Godard eliminates the finished song from the final credits, which makes some sort of sense, since it's not a film about the song, it's about a period, y'unnerstann, and is less concerned with The Rolling Stones than it is with the folks who buy their records, or at least some of them, the ones with something to say about totalitarianism, most likely. It makes sense also on account of it's a film about transition, from this point to that, but that itself exists in a time of uncertainty, when no-one much knows if it's gonna head one way or the other. As the rest of the threads are left in flux, so too should be the fate of that tune about the devil.
Art vs. Life and what not.
"As a film" says Victoria, "It makes for a great synopsis."
And with that she reached for her dress.
I will leave you to ponder these concerns, dear friend, and I would ask if you have encountered the picture in question, and if so, was it via a screening of a similarly uteral nature, or some other means?
I hope all is well, and also, could you ask Gertrude to refrain from cancelling my subscriptions to magazines I haven't yet had time to subscribe to.
Your friend
Duke De Mondo
Aaron Fleming writes to The Duke De Mondo;
Dear Duke De Mondo
I thank you longingly, old friend, for your educative and gratifying letter. It reached me in one wholesome burst of climatic pleasure, one for which my physiology had long yearned for. Never had I contemplated such an apt use of said organ, surely it is the best non-sexual, non-Pog related application of the female genitalia that I have ever heard tell of.
Article comments
1 - Steve C.
I always knew cinema was a lifeblood of sorts, but I never expected it literally.
Awesome stuff, as always. I'm never quite sure what to make of Godard, but rarely are his films not worth a look at least.
2 - Aaron Fleming
I agree Steve, Godard's films are always at least somewhat interesting, even though some are much better than others; just compare Alphaville with The Riflemen.
And thanks!
3 - Mat Brewster
Should I comment on the cinematic hoo hah or the Fleming moth? Too hard to chooose, so I'll just say I this very noon picked up a copy of Alphaville and look forward to its cinematic graces.
Brillians stuff gents, absolutely brilliant.
4 - Aaron Fleming
Alphaville is genius Mat, you'll love it!
5 - -E
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